Login HereDid our Forces of Light and Progress gain ground or lose yardage this week? I try to evaluate how we did every week -- usually on Saturday before I'm influenced by the Big Talking Heads and Opiners. We being the anti-fascist, pro-People Power, pro-Earth, DFH peace-lovers, in our battle with the Evil Borg Bush-loving replicants who've stolen our country to drive us over the cliff.
And this week is a toss-up for me.
Onetime Ken Starr underlings Amy St. Eve and John Bates demonstrated their obeisance to Dear Leader and his wealthy, powerful pals, illustrating yet again that this Regime's hold on the US judiciary will long outlast its own tenure.
On the other hand, freshmen Senators McCaskill and Webb called for the creation of an independent, bipartisan commission to investigate wartime profiteering in Iraq.
But: Preznit Chimpy McFlightsuit, before undergoing his "procedure," announced that US Attorneys were an enamation of his will and therefore may never prosecute Congressional contempt citations in cases where He has claimed His Executive Privilege.
Harry Reid got back in our good graces by making Grand Obstructionist Party (thanks, CHS!) Senators show their true colors in a grueling nightlong speechathon about our Occupation of Iraq. Unfortunately, Reed-Levin failed to overcome cloture. Fortunately, Harry Reid pulled the Defense Authorization Bill. Unfortunately, this may carry Bush's War all the way into September. Which emboldened Petraeus' number-two guy to talk about reporting benchmarks in November instead. An idea promptly knocked down by none other than a nervous Mitch McConnell. So, did we win or did we lose?
We learned about startling but par-for-the-course theocratic political pressure in the Surgeon General's office. And that the former 2008 GOP frontrunner blames his campaign's implosion on the sexuality of his knitwear.
So far, fifty-three American servicemembers have lost their lives in July in Iraq, while US Forces command paid Rand Corporation $400,000 to determine that Team USA's "force" brand was doomed from the start.
1,700,000 Americans who make minimum wage or less will get a seventy-cents per hour increase on Tuesday. Average earnings for the top twenty-five hedge fund managers in 2006 were $570,000,000. In total, these twenty-five people "earned" fourteen billion dollars.
We get to ask Presidential candidates questions. But Congress can't ask Presidential appointees questions.
So, next week, can we do better? Got any ideas how we might do better?
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TSF!
Great post Teddy!
They have cast down the gauntlet, to gain we must pick it up! Do we have the courage for the confrontation ahead? More to the point, do our leaders?
Wow. Sometimes it all seems so overwhelming. I like this blog bc it helps energize me and keep me going.
Teddy
Please explain to me what “gay” sweaters look like. I always thought McCain looked terrible in everything.
nonplussed @ 3
I hope some true leaders emerge from this mess. I think the public is hungry for one.
I’m becoming very frustrated, the more we find out about the depravity the more brazen they become
for instance, abu torture is still the ag
for instance, they outright defy to even appear before a subpeona and is any action taken?
no
the president decrees whoever he wants to declare a non person he can do it with no process what so ever
the president declares that anyone he says did nothing wrong can never be subjected to the law
what kind of ground have we gained?
we’ve gained the knowledge that our republic is gone, we’ve gained the knowledge that we now have a king
and we’ve learned the democrats are ass holes for allowing it
hello!
Every time I write a long thoughtful post, I get epu’ed
BigMitch @ 9
Tell me about it. I try to think and write short posts but still wind up closing the door and turning out the lights, or so it feels.
Nice post, Teddy.
TSF!
Change can’t be measured in a week or in a specific event, especially not in matters as complex as we’re in now. Some of this is like the melting snow that creates an avalanche: you don’t see it coming.
Keeping on, talking/writing/demonstrating/praying/mediating….change is brewing, even if you can’t see it yet.
Last week my family and I drove through Nevada and Utah. On a billboard on east-bound I-80, just as you say farewell to Elko, the Dalai Lama beams out at drivers, with a message that peace takes work. Not necessarily something one would expect in a desert but then, our expectations may not match the reality that is teeming and developing around us. Never give up. Never, never, never.
I didn’t realize how much happened just this week!
BigMitch @ 9
The “noggin” one? Bring it up here.
FWIW, I think we are winners on balance for the week. The all night obstruction party got people’s attention. As an editorial in the Hartford Courant said on Thursday, it was a stunt but a damned effective stunt. And they called bull sh*t on HoJo’s war mongering in the second paragraph and said that he was delusional and living in an alternate universe. Quite a joy to read actually.
Another point to the good was the letter that the WATB from the Pentagon sent to Sen Clinton and her response. Combine this with the denial of Rep DeFazio (from the Homeland Security committee) the right to review the government continuity plan, the congress is waking up at last.
We just have to stay vigilant and in their faces.
My $.02
janda @ 6
Where is Winston Churchill when we need him? Enough of these D appeasers.
Twain @ 5
I always thought any sweater could be “gay” if it was thrown over the shoulders with its sleeves tied around one’s neck. But I never saw Old Lord McCain doing that. I think he’s casting about to blame someone.
First the sweaters; next the Media.
Do emanations of the president’s will take an oath to uphold the Constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic? Or do they simply swear allegiance to the President and to uphold his will against all who oppose him?
LS @ 15
Behindthefall and others,
You have hit on the big question, which supercedes all others. I am convinced that the Bush administration has no regard for the constitutional protections that make America so durable, and so free.
One question is this: is this sui generis, or is it same-old same-old. 2000 wasn’t the first stolen election, and you can just ask Landslide Lyndon about how it was done in the old days. But then again, 2000 was the first time the shenanigans had the imprimatur of the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Iraq is not the first time a war was started on bullshit. Think Vietnam, or if you are historically minded Spanish American war. (In other words, Remember the Maine.) But this war is so monumentally misguided that it is beyond different in degree: it is different in kind. Crooks in office? Does anyone think Agnew was first, or Nixon was last?
Of course, we are talking about the rise of a fascist government in America. It can happen here. We know what it will look like. It will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross. But what will if FEEL like?
It will feel like 1939 in Germany. And that is why it is so important to know, what did they feel?
One thing is they had a bogeyman, i.e. my family, the Jews. The 21st Century Fascists try to have a bogey man, namely “Libruhls.” But there are too many of us for that to work. As I discuss this, I feel like I am grasping at straws to make the case that this is not what the rise of fascism feels like.
But my gut isn’t persuading my noggin.
Ummm… the “Emanation” thing is..umm…infuriating..
Meditate. Breathe..
How does one spell the sound of the emotion:
“Rage”.
LS @ 21
I think it’s ARGHHHHH!!!
wigwam @ 19
What if they are swearing fealty to Bush? I wasn’t automatically convinced that Sara Taylor “misspoke”
I wonder how Pat Fitzgerald feels, knowing he is an “emanation of the President’s will?”
Elliott @ 23
I am certain that they are.
Oh dearie me, and the media used to be his “base.”
LS @ 21
Rage Against The Machine
TeddySanFran @ 24
Now, that just sounds nasty.
When they came for the sweaters, I was silent because I am not a sweater.
When they came for the media, I was silent because I am not a medium.
(I am a large, which is why they call me Big Mitch)
I think Sara Taylor did not misspeak. I think she revealed the existence of an actual oath. I think a second oath, to Bush, exists and has been sworn. Not a big deal to get these naive, young, inexperienced people to believe such a thing is “usual, matter of fact, part of doing business.”
But one of them will crack, and I bet it’ll be Harriet.
Anyway, how about that $400,000 Madison Avenue expense to tell the Pentagon that their “force” brand isn’t selling to Iraqis? Tell that to the dead ones.
A prez. that not only cherry picks facts but laws here will recognize (but not follow), surrounded by a praetorian guard in all branches of government. An emasculated legislative branch, and a media that is at its best a small dog, happy when big daddy feeds it scraps of carefully crafted lies. Yes as the 80’s Russian comedian use to say “what a country”.
I like this definition of emanation:
# To “flow out from.” In Saiva Siddhanta philosophy, God Siva creates and is His creation. Siva’s creation of the world from Himself is described in scripture as being similar to “sparks issuing forth from fire” or “a web from a spider.” This vision of cosmic creation contrasts with other views such as “creation out of nothing” (Judeo/Christian), or non-creation–a view in which reality is permanent and always existing (Meykandar Saiva Siddhanta and other dualist and pluralist schools).
www.himalayanacademy.com/resou.....ssary.html
When they came for the pajamas media, I was asleep.
marymccurnin @ 33
I was eating Cheetoes and still a teenager…
TexB @ 25
I’m sure that in her mind she did swear an oath to the President when she was actually swearing to the constitution. And she was quite ungracious and dismissive of Sen Leahy when he called her on it. She just needs to be shown the truth of the matter and that her fealty was in the wrong direction.
Does everyone here agree with TSF that the all-night debate was a winner? I am not sure.
I think for the average person, it appeared that “much was said, but nothing was done.” The Dems sure as hell didn’t stop the war.
It was nice to see Harry Reid jab a little (boxing metaphore. But I am listening to the Yankee game, so it was nice to Harry throw one high and inside.) To be perfectly honest, I still don’t know what happened, other than nothing.
When the Defense spending authorization comes up again, if the ammendment can’t withstand closure, then make the Republicans stand up and talk until the cows come home, and then vote. That would be accomplishing something.
argosfalcon @ 31
Yakov Smirnoff
I think we made some real headway this week, momentum.
And with each new order or act or whatever, BushCo smells worse and worse. I think pretty soon it’s going to be so rank no one can pretend not to smell it.
argosfalcon @ 31
Ya’akov Shmirnoff.
eCAHNomics @ 26
I think the Media is waiting to fall for Fred, and Mrs Fred.
Speaking of candidate’s wives, did anyone watch AC360’s special coverage last nite entitled “Running Mates?” I was especially struck by their Edwards coverage. Anderson Cooper actually said, “Whatever your impression of John Edwards, there’s no question people admire his wife.” They are really training all the attack dogs on Edwards.
One of AC’s female guest commentators said, “With the very notable exception of Mrs Giuliani, these wives are professional, accomplished women in their own right.” We LOL’d here at chez TSF.
BigMitch @ 36
Sometimes pissing up a rope is worth it (if you are Vitter).
Bernadette Peters!
Hiya, Teddster. What’s shakin?
Elliott @ 38
I worry, though, that at the exact point when it becomes so rank it’s intolerable, the hammer of fascism will fall upon us all.
BigMitch @ 36
I think it was a winner, for instance, momentum.
What a good idea to evaluate before Sunday talking heads! This week we have seen things slip slip slippin’ away as per some dastardly plan preznit seems to be following, ‘things to be done before end of my term’, or perhaps ‘things to be done so my term doesnt end’. sick feeling in pit of my stomach tells me maybe week not so good. that executive order just awful, the torture statement too vague, burble burble burble.
One bright spot, Fitz on “Wait Wait” this morning — that was fun and clever.
Have had a hard time not expressing or even thinking really mean thoughts about preznits procedure. now it is over so that problem might abate! now, wherz the tums
Nanz @ 45
a humble fella
re Churchill
any aspirant to comparison needs
a certain skill in language?
Nice job, Teddy — I vote for a good week, over all. Any time you force Fred Hiatt and David Brooks and Mitch McConnell to whine about Harry Reid, while we celebrate the fact that he hung the Republicans on their on war votes — that’s a good week.
TeddySanFran @ 43
I hope you’re wrong!.. [crossing fingers]
I only think the all-nighter was a winner if they have more of them, Mitch. The media fell into the “stunt” frame quickly, showing the cots being unloaded, and saying they weren’t used; showing the pizza arriving, and saying it went uneaten.
If Harry Reid would cancel the August recess — very dangerous anyway, given Dear Leader’s predeliction to appoint — that would make real headway. They’ve lots of work, the building’s air-conditioned. Why not work?
Teddy!!! Excellent post!
This is one of the best statements I’ve read in a while; “We get to ask Presidential candidates questions. But Congress can’t ask Presidential appointees questions.” DeFazio being denied COG access merely adds to the Unitary Executive, this precedent needs to quashed, once and for all!!!
Just posted the funniest mural ever, sent to me by a friend.
http://thebetsyblog-betsy.blog.....-wall.html
Scarecrow @ 48
Harry did box out Warner-Lugar pretty well, didn’t he? As well as that awful Salazar WINO-saving Compromise.
jacqrat @ 42
jacqrat! FYI - I believe it was Boston1775 that you felt slammed you at the end of Donita’s thread yesterday and he has left a number of comments apologizing profusely that that was in no way his intent, that he was in fact prasiing your comment.
Well what would motivate people to take more action? We could tell them again how we were lied into a war, no, they don’t seem to mind being stripped of their Constitutional rights and civil liberties either. They don’t seem to care that the ship of state is being steered into an iceberg by a dry drunk lunatic. Or is it that the 28 per cent that back little boots are so rich and powerful, that the rest of us have been made to feel powerless, and how do we the majority take back the power and put these criminals out?
may @ 47
At a minimum. But I was thinking more of someone with the ability to recognize how dire the situation is. None of the prez candidates show any command of the obvious.
TexB @ 52
lol. That made my night. Thanks!
LS @ 32
Okay, you force me to do this.
In mystical Judaism the idea of creation is discussed extensively. In a nutshell, before Genesis, God was everywhere. The first act of creation was a contraction, in which God made a space for the universe to exist. Then God filled this space with ten emanations, called in Hebrew, “Sefirot.” They are: 1. Total Consciousness: I am that I am. 2. Wisdom. 3 Understanding. 4. Mercy. 5. Judgment. 6. Beauty. 7. Contemplatin. 8. Intellect. 9. Foundation. and 10. Majesty
The words used here are imperfect translations of the names of the Sefirot, but you get the idea.
Pearl Jam - Betterman
BigMitch @ 58
That is really lovely. Thanks for sharing.
TeddySanFran @ 50
I agree 100%. To answer your rhetorical question, they have to raise money. Sucks, doesn’t it?
argosfalcon @ 55
Tell them there won’t be another American Idol until they start paying attention to the fact that the country they were born into may very soon be lost forever.
And no Simpsons Movie either!
Tammy Faye (Baker)Messner has passed away! RIP!
TammyFaye was on Larry King, at her request, earlier this week. Oh we gayz will miss our TammyFaye.
((((Rest in Peace Tammy Faye.))))
Does anyone know the link as to which members of Congress have singed up for impeachment?
CTuttle @ 63
RIP
eCAHNomics @ 66
hold their feet to the fire.
Elliott @ 67
RIP.
Re: the all night debate, it seems the members have their prepared speechs, some very good and passionate, they get up and deliver them and I just have the sense no one is listening there in the room– I wondered if someone gave the best, most stirring speech ever made, if anyone would be listening to acknowledge it? I don’t think so, even in a regular session– no one listens to anyone else. And so, no wonder it seemed like a waste of effort, a grandstanding. Too much Mr. Deed’s I guess. Not like that now, probably was never like that! what can make them listen to each other and get some genuine work for the people done, not the parties?
I’m no Christian ideologue, yet, I empathize with her demise, Teddy! I’m not even Christian! (Baha’i!)
Elliott @ 23
I agree, and I’d like to know exactly who took loyalty oaths to the President or to the Republican party.
List and photos of the reps who’ve signed on for impeachment.
http://mikk2.wordpress.com/2007/07/22/i-i-i-i-i/
Well Teddy that just might do it, no Simpson’s thats harsh but hard problems require tough solutions. I just keep feeling like I’m in survivor “fascist Island” with no chance at immunity and they don’t vote you off the island. They declare you an enemy of the state and ship you to an undisclosed location for re-education.
argosfalcon @ 55
Well how’s about this? Say a very handsome NFL guy enlists after 9-11 because he was brought up in a patriotic home, and he heard his country’s call. And then he gets killed in action, so the government tries to use it as a propaganda device. But it turns out that he was killed by friendly fire, when he heroically tried to stop an internecine firefight. And then it turns out that the fucking dickwads in the White House knew this, and they LIED about it!!! And Then When the Congress investigated they said, “FUCK YOU! WE GOT EXECUTIVE PRIVI-FUCKIN’-LEDGE!!!
That would do it, don’cha think?
Guess not.
Figuring out whether the all-nighter was a winner should be easy. Did most Americans see an image of the sign that said, “Let us vote” ?
I don’t think so.
BigMitch @ 75
hard to believe, that one.
BigMitch @ 75
You’re right, Mitch! I’m only reading/hearing about Tillman within the Left Blogoshere!!!
Elliott @ 77
TILLMAN!!!!!
anyone posted on sports blogs comments?
I’ll tell you this: As typed that, my blood pressure just kept rising and rising, and now, I feel like I could punch a hole through a wall.
TexB @ 73
Thanks. Will email Maloney (city) and Hinchey (country), neither of whom has signed on yet. Maloney is useless, but Hinchey’s pretty good.
BigMich I’m shocked that you would think our government would do such a thing. Use a solders death as a cheep political ploy. Oops wait, my bad they did.
Sometimes I wonder if Harry Reid pulled his allnighter so we’d all be nicer next month at YKos. They must be worried about the Leadership Forum, where Rahm, Pelosi, Reid, and Durbin are scheduled to appear.
CTuttle @ 78
Then make sure you keep talking about how Tillman was killed and how the Tillman family was lied to and how the admin and president is hiding something to all your NFL fan friends. It will eventually penetrate but you have to keep it in their focus.
TexB @ 73
Great link, thanks!
Teddy, can’t wait to meet you in person.
You don’t have a facebook?
eCAHNomics @ 82
I’m certain Neil Abercrombie will jump on board, I’ll work on Mazie Hirono, my congresscritter!
Well what would motivate people to take more action?
Real leadership?
argosfalcon @ 83
Can you believe the righties who brush off the combat casualties with “they signed up.” ?
jayt @ 89
Lets not ask for the moon (snark)
TeddySanFran @ 50
Inclined to agree. If they push it hard, I think the Republicans will crack. Too many up for reelection, and the war is genuinely unpopular.
Just thinking outloud.
Nancy Pelosi is not a dope, and she was thinking about Congress before I was born. There must be a good reason why she said I is off the table.
I think she inuited correctly that the Republicans would over-play their hand. And this executive privilege is the most easy to understan way in which they have done so.
But it has to get attention, which we all agree Tillman has not. Arresting Harriet Meiers wil get attention, plenty.
That is why I concluded last night that Conyers decision to pursue inherent contempt remedies was the biggest news of the night. Now, in honor of TSF, excellent post, I will not declare was the biggest news of the week, IMHO.
Well instead of a draft, let have a lottery everyone want to win the lottery?
A-Rod has a double and a homer already in tonights second game, and he is up with bases loaded …..
long sacrifice fly, Yankees have a 14-5 lead.